HB 1395 -- Choice of Health Care Providers

Sponsor:  Bland

This bill prohibits health benefit plans from:  imposing a
monetary advantage that would affect a beneficiary's choice
among participating health care providers; charging an
additional fee to beneficiaries if that fee is not imposed on
all beneficiaries in the same category; and limiting a
provider's opportunity to participate when the provider is
willing to accept the plan's terms and conditions.  The bill
allows health benefit plans to institute measures to maintain
quality and control costs, if such measures are imposed equally
among all providers in the same class.  Health benefit plans are
not required to cover any specific service.  Persons adversely
affected by violations of the bill's provisions may sue for
injunctive relief and recover damages, attorney fees, and costs
if they prevail.